DOI Heft:
Nr. 116 (November 1902)
DOI Artikel:Vallance, Aymer: Designs for book-plates: some remarks upon the result of competition B XX.
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19877#0138
Designs for Book-plates
for the surrounding border. The drawing of the
grass and fishes in the foreground is a skilful piece
of work, and should lend itself well to the process
of wood engraving. In the series of designs by
" Isca " is a sustained individuality, together with a
strong decorative element, qualities which go to
raise the work to a high order of merit. Moreover,
the massing and distribution c f black and white,
together with a keen sense of physical beauty, par-
ticularly in the case of the female figure holding
up her apron filled with fruit, are welcome features.
If this artist's inspiration was derived from any
external source it is not easy to locate it. Possibly
in the figure with the torch may be discerned a
slight rapprochement to Aubrey Beardsley; more,
book-plate by "gwyn" indeed, in technique than in physical type, for the
exaggerated mas-
again it is instruc^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ form. ^ The'' atfr
tive to note how B00K_PIATE ' by "nick" tude of the former
diversely the same is, perhaps, some-
object comes to what strained, but
be conventionalised in different hands; "Doric's" the lines of the latter are decidedly graceful,
roses being treated somewhat after the Century " Malvolio's" design to express the contrast
Guild manner; while those of " Hylus" recall
the methods of certain oriental embroideries.
" Iris's" work is based on purely abstract forms,
not exactly seaweed and not exactly strap-ornament,
but, as it were, a combination of the two.
More ambitious—and, since they comprise
human figures, more interesting, if less essentially
book-plates—are those designs which belong to the
other class. " Bardie's " is notable as the unique
example framed in an architectural setting. It is
true this presents a free treatment that cannot be
called a literal rendering of any of the historic
styles, but it is none the less striking from the point
of view of ornament. " Curlew's " design shows
a carefully drawn interior, with furniture. " Excel-
sior " displays a female head with a dense mass of
hair, the whole fashioned in the chiaroscuro method
of W. P. Nicholson. " Plato's " design of a man
fishing reproduces similar peculiarities of technique,
combined with the ornamental treatment of trees book-plate
126
for the surrounding border. The drawing of the
grass and fishes in the foreground is a skilful piece
of work, and should lend itself well to the process
of wood engraving. In the series of designs by
" Isca " is a sustained individuality, together with a
strong decorative element, qualities which go to
raise the work to a high order of merit. Moreover,
the massing and distribution c f black and white,
together with a keen sense of physical beauty, par-
ticularly in the case of the female figure holding
up her apron filled with fruit, are welcome features.
If this artist's inspiration was derived from any
external source it is not easy to locate it. Possibly
in the figure with the torch may be discerned a
slight rapprochement to Aubrey Beardsley; more,
book-plate by "gwyn" indeed, in technique than in physical type, for the
exaggerated mas-
again it is instruc^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ form. ^ The'' atfr
tive to note how B00K_PIATE ' by "nick" tude of the former
diversely the same is, perhaps, some-
object comes to what strained, but
be conventionalised in different hands; "Doric's" the lines of the latter are decidedly graceful,
roses being treated somewhat after the Century " Malvolio's" design to express the contrast
Guild manner; while those of " Hylus" recall
the methods of certain oriental embroideries.
" Iris's" work is based on purely abstract forms,
not exactly seaweed and not exactly strap-ornament,
but, as it were, a combination of the two.
More ambitious—and, since they comprise
human figures, more interesting, if less essentially
book-plates—are those designs which belong to the
other class. " Bardie's " is notable as the unique
example framed in an architectural setting. It is
true this presents a free treatment that cannot be
called a literal rendering of any of the historic
styles, but it is none the less striking from the point
of view of ornament. " Curlew's " design shows
a carefully drawn interior, with furniture. " Excel-
sior " displays a female head with a dense mass of
hair, the whole fashioned in the chiaroscuro method
of W. P. Nicholson. " Plato's " design of a man
fishing reproduces similar peculiarities of technique,
combined with the ornamental treatment of trees book-plate
126